PROPAGATION BY SEED 



secure garden soil free from manure and other 

 decaying vegetable matter. Where these are 

 present they are liable to induce the growth of 

 "damping off" fungi. 



Where leaf-mold can not be secured the soil 

 should be made more porous by the addition of 

 sand. The addition of leaf-mold or sand makes 

 the soil more open and porous thus preventing 

 "caking" in drying out. 



The soil should be pulverized and thoroughly 

 mixed, all coarse pieces and stones being thrown 

 out. It may be made of a more even texture by 

 passing through a sieve with a one-fourth or one- 

 half inch mesh. The box or pot should be filled 

 with the prepared soil to within a quarter or a 

 half inch of the top, and then, by means of a flat 

 object, such as a brick or a block, the soil should 

 be pressed down evenly and firmly but not too 

 compactly. When properly packed a pressure of 

 the finger should leave a slight dent in the soil. 



WATERING OF SOIL 



If the seeds to be sown are small ones the soil 

 should first be thoroughly watered. This may 



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